Live minnow handling device



March 9, 1954 A, TT 2,671,687

LIVE MINNOW HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1951 WILLIAM A. UTTZ IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIVE MINNOW HANDLING DEVICE Tex., a partnership Application May 28, 1951, Serial No. 228,640

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fishing equipment and has reference to a device for picking up and holding live minnows when baiting a fish book.

It is well known that live minnows are slick and hard to handle when used for bait. It is difficult to pick a minnow out of a minnow bucket, and the pressure necessary to hold the minnow by hand after it is caught frequently kills it. Moreover, such use of the hands is not desirable since an objectionable odor is left on the fingers when minnows are so handled. Also, such handling causes the minnows to die prematurely.

An object of the invention is to provide a minnow handling device whereby live minnows may be conveniently picked up and held for baiting a fish hook without killing the minnow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for the described purpose whereby the hands need not come in contact with the minnows, thereby eliminating the deposit of matter having an objectionable odor on the fingers.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a holder of the described class which is shaped to hold a minnow without killing it, and yet serve the intended purpose.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a minnow handling device embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, of the minnow handling device illustrated in Figure l, and showing the manner whereby a minnow may be held for baiting a fish hook.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a modified form of the invention wherein a compression spring is employed for normally maintaining the sides of the holder apart from each other.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 is made of a single piece of wire and includes parallel handle members ID and I I which are joined at corresponding ends thereof by means of a transverse portion l2. Preferably, the last referred to end of the holder additionally includes parallel laterally projecting portions l3 and M- having reverse bends l5 and I6 arranged to form a hook (not numbered) for hanging the device in a minnow bucket or the like when not in use. The ends of the handle members Ill and H, opposite their transverse connecting portion 52, are each formed into loops ll and I8 so as to provide finger holders for handling and operating the device. Parallel projecting portions l9 and 2| extends from the loops l1 and I8 and are at right angles with respect to the length of other.

2 the side members It! and II. Minnow holding jaws 2| and 22 are integral with the projecting portions l9 and 20, and which jaws are formed of reverse bends in the wire and extend substantially parallel with respect to the handle members Ill and II. Preferably, the jaws 2| are shaped to generally conform with the shape of the minnow to be held therebetween. The outer ,end of one of the jaws 2| is provided with an eye 23 arranged to slidably receive a transverse portion 24 integral with the end of the remaining jaw 22. The outermost end of the transverse portion 24 is bent, as at 25, so as to limit the movement of the jaws 2| and 22 away from each It is to be understood that the spring tension of the described wire assembly is such that the jaws 2| and 22 normally expand relative to each other.

The form of the invention shown in Figure 3 is similar to the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, but different therefrom in that a coiled compression spring 25 is employed for normally maintaining the jaws 21 and 28 apart. The modification includes parallel handle members 29 and 3|, a hook portion 3| formed at corresponding ends thereof, and which hook portion is shaped as previously described for en gaging the device on a minnow bucket or the like. The ends of the side members 29 and 30 opposite the hook portion 3| include eyes 32 and 33 at locations which correspond with the previous described loops or finger holders l1 and I8. Laterally extending portions 34 and 35 are provided for supporting the jaws 21 and 28 integral therewith, and are arranged whereby the latter are parallel with the side portions 29 and 3|. The coil spring 26 is mounted on a transverse wire 5| or guide secured to one of the lateral projections 35, as at 52, and which wire is looped as at 53 and is thence positioned through the adjacent eye 33, and thence through the remaining eye 32, where it is bent, as at 54, to limit the outward movement of the jaws 21 and 28 relative to each other.

The operation of all forms of the invention is substantially the same. By squeezing the side members I0 and H, 29 and 30, together, a minnow may be engaged between the jaws 2|, 22 or 27, 28, for picking the minnow from a minnow bucket or minnow net, and for holding the same While the fish hook is engaged through the minnow. The last referred to operation may be carried out by laterally positioning the hook through the minnow and between the bends of the jaws 2| and 22, 21 and 28. If desired the hook may be inserted through the mouth and gills of the minnow while held by means of any of the described forms of the invention.

The invention is not restricted to the cononhe imsm n and de c ibed. an a be made gin many ways within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A live minnow handling device comprising a pair of elongated jaws arranged in substantially parallel relation with respect to each other, each said jaw being of wire in the form of re.ve r.se bends, the individual bends thereof Ibeingarcuately formed and concave with ,lfispiifl'b .to its opposing said jaw so as to provide a minnow 15 holding portion therebetween, expansible substantially parallel wire handle members connected with corresponding ends of said jaws, means connected with said handle members .nqrmalh' mov ng" said jaw awa i Q each other, and means carried by said device limiting the outward movement of said jaws.

WILLIAM A. UTTZ.

fie gferenco s Cited in the file of this patent UNrrnns rATEs PATENTS :Number Name Date "745;882 Miller Dec. 1, 1903 -1 ;Q95,-054 'Wiesenfeld Apr. 28, 1914 -1;723;597 Bannister Aug. 6, 1929 

